Angela Dugalić isn’t starting games for UCLA this season, but make no mistake-she’s been one of the Bruins’ most impactful players. Now in her fifth year of college basketball, Dugalić has embraced a new role off the bench, and it’s paying off in a big way for both her and head coach Cori Close.
After spending the majority of the last two seasons in the starting lineup, Dugalić has transitioned into a top option off the bench, with Gianna Kneepkens sliding into the starting five. That shift has unlocked something special. Dugalić is not only playing the best basketball of her college career-she’s doing it with efficiency, energy, and a level of maturity that’s hard to overstate.
Let’s not forget, this is a player who started her collegiate journey at Oregon in 2020-21, transferred to UCLA, and then had to sit out the 2022-23 season due to injury. That’s a tough road, but Dugalić has come out of it stronger.
She’s averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, both career highs, while logging 24.8 minutes a night-also a career high. She’s doing all this while shooting a sharp 53.9% from the field and 35.3% from three.
That’s not just solid; that’s starter-level production coming from the bench.
And when the Bruins needed her to step up, she delivered. In a win over Southern University, Dugalić poured in a season-high 20 points, knocking down three of her six attempts from beyond the arc. It was a performance that earned her Student-Athlete of the Week honors and reminded everyone just how valuable she is to this UCLA squad.
She’s hit double figures in scoring in seven games already this season and continues to be one of the team’s most reliable rebounders. Dugalić brings toughness on the glass, versatility on both ends, and a calm, veteran presence that fits perfectly into what’s shaping up to be a deep and experienced Bruins roster.
This is a UCLA team built for a deep run. The bench is a big reason why.
With so many seniors and March-tested players, the Bruins aren’t just talented-they’re battle-hardened. Dugalić, who started on last year’s Final Four team, knows what it takes to win when the lights are brightest.
And even though she’s coming off the bench, don’t expect her minutes to dip when the postseason rolls around. Dugalić is too important, too consistent, and too seasoned to be anything less than a key contributor. As UCLA gears up for the grind of the Big Ten schedule and eyes another March run, Dugalić’s role will only grow more critical.
She may not be starting games, but Angela Dugalić is helping UCLA finish them-with poise, power, and purpose.